New business promises to freshen up company canteens

A new Nottingham business is aiming to freshen up the traditional workplace canteen and catering offering with the launch of its new micro market concept.

R+R Hub, based on Victoria Business Park, provides custom-designed, unattended, cashless self-serve checkouts, where employees can make purchases 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and are able to choose from a selection of fresh foods, snacks and beverages.

It is the sister company of Cema Vending, which has a 16-year background in the market, but the new venture is positioned with a different offering.

Managing director Simon Leadley said: “Cema Vending is a company that continues to grow alongside the evolving industry of workplace refreshments and with all of that experience, it felt like the natural next step for us was to venture into the dynamic world of micro markets.

“It’s an investment in employee wellbeing and office culture to create a happy and engaging environment where people want to work and our Micro Markets are a big part of that. They provide a hub, a heartbeat and are a place where teams can catch up, collaborate and come together over a fresh coffee or a leisurely lunch. They transform the standard breakout area into the ultimate refreshment hub and have a fantastic impact on workplace culture.”

R+R Hub offers everything from a weekly fruit, milk and water delivery to supplying employees with options for bean-to-cup coffee, lunch or snacks.

It also provides buffet ordering and staff treats, all of which are available via a dedicated app.

Emma Preece has become general manager of the company after gaining over a decade’s worth of experience in the commercial interiors sector.

She said: “The statistics continue to reveal that burnout and stress among employees is a major issue and workplace wellbeing is now thankfully on the agenda as a key area for responsible and forward-thinking businesses to look after.

“We believe that a high quality, well thought-out breakout area that provides a variety of refreshments can boost morale, mental well-being and productivity levels. Our flexible micro markets make that possible and with a flexibility that means they are accessible to any business, not just the major corporations. We’re hugely excited to launch the business after a successful pilot phase and will be announcing key partnerships in the near future.”